France Implements New Decree Banning PFAS in Textiles and Footwear, Effective January 1st

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are widely used in textiles, especially in outdoor sportswear, protective clothing, and outdoor gear, for their excellent water, oil, and stain-resistant properties. However, PFAS are highly persistent in the natural environment, exhibiting durability and bioaccumulation potential. Once entering the human body, they are difficult to eliminate and can accumulate over time, potentially weakening the immune system, causing liver damage, increasing cancer risk, and posing long-term impacts on ecosystems. Recently, France formally passed a new decree to ban PFAS in consumer products.

On December 30, 2025, the French government published Decree No. 2025-1376, introducing strict measures to prevent risks associated with PFAS while explicitly excluding second-hand clothing from the restrictions.

According to the newly issued government decree, the PFAS ban applies to new textile and footwear products, as well as water-repellent agents, placed on the French market starting January 1, 2026. It prohibits the manufacturing, import, export, and sale of products containing PFAS, specifying concentration thresholds, compliance timelines, and exemptions for specific sectors. Sales of existing stock produced before this date are granted a 12-month transition period. However, second-hand clothing containing PFAS, including legacy products treated for water or stain resistance, are effectively permitted to continue circulating on the French second-hand market.

This exception, allowing the resale, donation, and reuse of PFAS-treated textiles, reflects policy considerations balancing environmental and social trade-offs involved in removing large volumes of existing clothing from circulation. French authorities acknowledge that an immediate restriction on second-hand clothing could undermine circular economy goals and increase textile waste, especially given the prevalence of PFAS in legacy apparel.

The decree sets the following residual concentration thresholds for PFAS compliance:

25 ppb (excluding polymers)
250 ppb total PFAS (from precursor degradation, excluding polymers)
50 ppm total fluorine (including polymers)
If the total fluorine content exceeds 50 mg F/kg, manufacturers, importers, exporters, or producers must provide evidence, upon request by competent authorities, that the fluorine originates from either PFAS or non-PFAS substances.

Certain exemptions are permitted, notably:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) under EU Regulation 2016/425;
Military and civilian protective equipment;
Textiles and footwear containing at least 20% recycled materials, where PFAS are limited to the recycled portion.
The decree implements provisions from Law No. 2025-188 passed earlier this year, aimed at protecting public health and the environment from PFAS-related risks. The regulation aligns with EU standards and anticipates future technical updates under European chemicals safety legislation. The Ministry of Ecological Transition emphasizes that these measures aim to reduce exposure to PFAS, linked to environmental persistence and potential health hazards.

This approach reflects a broader debate among European regulators on managing "legacy" chemical risks in textiles while promoting reuse, recycling, and product life extension. While new PFAS-containing products face progressive restrictions, regulators have opted for a phased transition to avoid penalizing resale platforms, charity shops, and export-oriented second-hand traders.

For global apparel exporters, including suppliers from Bangladesh, the decree underscores the need for distinct compliance strategies separating new product placement from resale and reuse channels. Industry observers note that brands supplying the French and broader EU markets will now face stricter scrutiny regarding chemical management, disclosure, and the adoption of PFAS-free materials for future collections, even as legacy stock remains legally tradable.